1. Warm Up: What law would you like to see passed? (must be Constitutional) What law would you like to see passed? (must be Constitutional) How could you get that law passed? How could you get that law passed?

2. Key Terms A bill is a proposed law A bill is a proposed law Appropriation bill- a bill approving the spending of money Appropriation bill- a bill approving the spending of money Act- another term for a law Act- another term for a law Veto-refusal to sign a bill Veto-refusal to sign a bill

3. Where do you think that ideas for laws come from?

4. Sources of Legislation U.S. Citizens U.S. Citizens Interest Groups Interest Groups Members of Congress Members of Congress Congressional Committees Congressional Committees The President The President

5. Bill is Considered Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. Each bill is assigned a letter and a number Each bill is assigned a letter and a number (HR) House Resolution- bills introduced in House (SR) Senate Resolution- bills introduced in Senate After bill is introduced, it is printed in the Congressional Record - publication that covers daily proceedings of Congress After bill is introduced, it is printed in the Congressional Record - publication that covers daily proceedings of Congress

6. Bill Sent to Committee After a bill is introduced it is sent to a committee After a bill is introduced it is sent to a committee Committee can: Committee can: 1. Refer to a subcommittee 2. Set bill aside 3. Hold hearings on the bill 4. Pass bill without changes 5. Make changes to bill

7. House Acts on the Bill If committee recommends bill, it is sent back to the H.O.R. If committee recommends bill, it is sent back to the H.O.R. Bill is placed on calendar, scheduled for debate and vote Bill is placed on calendar, scheduled for debate and vote Who do you think schedules when a bill will be debated ?

8. House Acts on the Bill Speaker of the House determines when or if a bill will be debated Speaker of the House determines when or if a bill will be debated House Rules Committee decides how much time will be given to debate the bill House Rules Committee decides how much time will be given to debate the bill During debate, amendments to the bill can be offered During debate, amendments to the bill can be offered Amendments are debated Amendments are debated Votes are taken on amendments Votes are taken on amendments

9. House Acts on the Bill When debate is finished, a vote is taken When debate is finished, a vote is taken A quorum, or majority of members must be present A quorum, or majority of members must be present Majority vote needed to pass bill Majority vote needed to pass bill If bill passes House, it goes to Senate for consideration If bill passes House, it goes to Senate for consideration

10. Voting on a Bill Once a bill has been approved at second reading, it is engrossed, or printed in its final form. It is then read for a third time and a final vote is taken.

11. Senate Acts on the Bill Bill goes through same steps whether it is introduced in H.O.R. or in Senate Bill goes through same steps whether it is introduced in H.O.R. or in Senate Time for debate on bills is not usually limited in the Senate Time for debate on bills is not usually limited in the Senate Filibuster- a method of delaying bills. Filibuster- a method of delaying bills. -“talking a bill to death” Debate can only be limited by 3/5 majority Debate can only be limited by 3/5 majority -“super majority” Cloture- vote to end debate Cloture- vote to end debate After debate is finished, vote is taken After debate is finished, vote is taken

12. Final Bill If the identical bill passes the House and the Senate, it is ready to be sent to the President If the identical bill passes the House and the Senate, it is ready to be sent to the President If changes have been made: If changes have been made: Conference Committee- equal number of Senators and Representatives work together on a compromise of the bill Conference Committee- equal number of Senators and Representatives work together on a compromise of the bill -Compromise bill is sent back to both houses for approval

13. President Acts on the Bill After both houses have agreed on a final version of a bill After both houses have agreed on a final version of a bill Bill is sent to president for approval Bill is sent to president for approval

14. President Acts on the Bill President has three options President has three options 1. Sign the bill, making it a law 2. Veto the bill, send back to Congress with reason why it was rejected 3. Keep bill for 10 days without signing or vetoing it. If Congress is in session, bill becomes law without presidents signature. If Congress is in session, bill becomes law without presidents signature. If Congress is not in session, bill is killed by a pocket veto If Congress is not in session, bill is killed by a pocket veto

15. Why might a president want to wait 10 days rather than sign or veto a law?

16. After Veto Congress can override a presidents veto with a 2/3 vote in both houses Congress can override a presidents veto with a 2/3 vote in both houses

17. In a nutshell… Each year, Congress considers thousands of bills. Each year, Congress considers thousands of bills. A bill can be introduced in either house A bill can be introduced in either house -Exception: appropriation bills must begin in the H.O.R. Both the H.O.R. and the Senate must pass the bill. Both the H.O.R. and the Senate must pass the bill. Once passed, the bill can be signed by the president to become law. Once passed, the bill can be signed by the president to become law.

18. Why do you think the process to pass a bill is so difficult?

19. Reminder Test on Friday 3/30